Minette Marrin
A True King Among Lears
Derek Jacobi gives a masterful performance as the tormented monarch
No Crying Matter
Men Should Weep is not worthy of the talents of the National. The Rivals, however, is blessed relief
Playing the Great Game
A new National Theatre play avoids cliché to portray US involvement in Afghanistan
Saturnine Sons of the Terror
A 19th-century play about an 18th-century revolution may be baffling. But it’s worth it
Terrible Home Truths
Arthur Miller’s All My Sons has renewed resonance. The Apollo’s production is unrivalled
Taking Liberties
Sexual and political intrigue have always been part and parcel of the ruling elite’s life
Old-Stagers Resurrected
Five plays that have stood the test of time get a new airing on the London stage
Jerusalem the Golden
Jerusalem, a play rich in historical resonance, is dominated by an extraordinary individual performance
Champagne Moments
Once in a while, you see something on stage that takes your breath away
The Art of Bad Habits
Alan Bennett’s play about Auden and Britten works. Timberlake Wertenbaker’s about Degas doesn’t
Will the green agenda be killed off by the pandemic?
‘Will the green agenda be killed off by the longer-term coronavirus recovery? Or might the closure of so much business, and the cleaner air that results from planes not flying and factories not working, give us extra years to gain control of our environment?’
Why T.S. Eliot still matters
His contemporaries’ reputations have diminished. But Eliot’s has grown: he is the poet who shows us what can be saved from the ruins
Music’s in the house
Rappers have found a role in lockdown: chronicling coronavirus with topical tunes. Most people, though, are rushing to the safety of the past